Iowa farmers blame Trump-era policies for soaring costs and shrinking profits

Speaking on a Saturday morning program, Iowa Farmers Association President Aaron Lehman described the current agricultural climate as chaotic, attributing farmers’ financial strain to policies enacted under President Trump. He highlighted that diesel fuel has jumped from $3.50 to $5.40 per gallon, adding roughly $200 per tractor during harvest, and that tariffs have made equipment and repairs costlier while prompting foreign retaliatory duties on key crops.

Fertilizer costs, up 12 percent in the first quarter of 2026, were tied to the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Lehman called for the passage of a farm bill overdue by three years and a trade strategy that secures fair prices, but noted no legislative movement. Surveying attendees at the Iowa State Fair, the majority confirmed their farms were not profitable last year and did not expect to break even this season. Despite strong support for President Trump in the 2024 election, the Cook Political Report now rates the gubernatorial race as leaning Democratic and the Senate contest as a toss-up because of these economic pressures.